The probe into the death of Keroche Breweries heiress Tecra Muigai is a complete display of the differences between Director of Public Prosecutions DPP Noordin Haji and Directorate of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti.
It was all brought to the light when Mr Haji made an application to move the proceedings to Lamu when Mr Kinoti had directed the case to be heard before a Milimani court in Nairobi.
Haji spoke through his Assistant DPP Joseph Riungu who stressed that the decision as to where the proceedings should be held lies with Haji as he directed the magistrate not to accept submissions from any other parties.
The Muigai family led by Tecra’s mother, Tabitha Karanja jumped into the dispute as she differed with the DPP calling for the case to be handled by an independent prosecutor.
Ms Karanja was represented by senior counsel James Orengo who argued that most witnesses set to testify in the probe are residents of Nairobi.
She also claimed that autopsy results revealed evidence that raised serious doubts regarding the explanation given by the main Mr Lali Omar Lali.
Mr Lali was the boyfriend to the deceased but is also the main suspect. He was arraigned in Garsen but the DPP withdrew the charges and ordered for investigations on the death of Tecra.
“That the family of the deceased now strongly believes … the DPP is responding to instructions and or pressure from elsewhere to avoid bringing to account whoever may have been responsible for the death of Patricia Tecra Muigai,” Ms Karanja said in an affidavit.
She further claimed that her family is apprehensive about the proceedings taking place in Lamu inquest because Mr Lali is an influential person there. Poor mode of transport and insecurity.
The hearings will resume on October 14 in Milimani Law Courts.
